Internal combustion engine ignition system having increased ignition spark energy

ABSTRACT

An improved internal combustion engine ignition system having increased ignition spark energy. The series combination of an inductor and the current carrying electrodes of a transistor is connected in parallel with the series combination of the ignition coil primary winding and the ignition coil primary winding switch across the battery. The transistor conducts through the current carrying electrodes with each opening of the ignition coil primary winding switch to complete an energizing circuit for the inductor and extinguishes with each closing of the ignition coil primary winding switch to interrupt the energizing circuit for the inductor. The potential induced in the inductor by the collapsing magnetic field thereof is applied across the ignition coil primary winding in series aiding relationship with the potential of the battery to increase the rate of rise of the ignition coil primary winding current.

United States Patent Campbell et al.

[ 1 Feb. 29, 1972 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM HAVINGINCREASED IGNITION SPARK ENERGY Robert E. Campbell; Gerald 0. Hunt:-iuger, both of Anderson, Ind.

Inventors:

Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Int. Cl ..'.F02p 3/06 Field at Search ..l23/148 E; 315/220, 209 rReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,178,608 4/1965 McKendry..l23/l48 E Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge AssistantExaminerCort Flint Attorney-Eugene W. Christen, Creighton R. Meland andRichard G. Stahr [5 7] ABSTRACT An improved internal combustion engineignition system having increased ignition spark energy. The seriescombination of an inductor and the current carrying electrodes of atransistor is connected in parallel with the series combination of theignition coil primary winding and the ignition coil primary windingswitch across the battery. The transistor conducts through the currentcarrying electrodes with each opening of the i gnition coil primarywinding switch to complete an energizing circuit for the inductor andextinguishes with each closing of the ignition coil primary windingswitch to interrupt the energizing circuit for the inductor. Thepotential induced in the inductor by the collapsing magnetic fieldthereof is applied across the ignition coil primary winding in seriesaiding relationship with the potential of the battery to increase therate of rise of the ignition coil primary winding current.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures TO ENGINE CRANKING CIRCUIT TO IGNITIONDISTRIBUTOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM HAVING INCREASEDIGNITION SPARK ENERGY This invention is directed to internal combustionengine ignition systems and, more particularly, to an internalcombustion engine ignition system having increased ignition sparkenergy.

One objectionable characteristic of internal combustion engine ignitionsystems of the type which depends upon the collapse of the magneticfield of the ignition coil primary winding to produce the ignition sparkenergy is the inability of the system to provide sufficient energizingcurrent through the ignition coil primary winding at high engine speeds.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedinternal combustion engine ignition system.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved internalcombustion engine ignition system having increased ignition sparkenergy.

In accordance with this invention, an improved internal combustionengine ignition system having increased ignition spark energy isprovided wherein the potential induced in an inductor element, upon thecollapse of the magnetic field thereof when the energizing circuittherefor is interrupted by an electrical switch with each closing of theignition coil primary winding switch, is applied across the ignitioncoil primary winding in series aiding relationship with the source ofdirect current operating potential.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together withadditional objects, advantages, and features thereof, reference is madeto the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the ignition system of thisinvention in schematic form, and

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the ignition system of this invention inschematic form.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, like elements have been assigned likenumerals of reference and the point of reference or ground potential hasbeen shown by the accepted schematic symbol and referenced by thenumeral 5.

Referring to the figures, the internal combustion engine ignition systemhaving increased ignition spark energy of this invention is set forth inschematic form in combination with a source of direct current potential,which may be a storage battery 8, and includes an ignition coil primarywinding 12; an ignition coil primary winding switch, ignitiondistributor breaker contacts and 10a of FIG. 1 or transistor 70 of FIG.2, having current carrying elements which are operated to electricalcircuit open and closed conditions in timed relationship with theengine; an inductor element 15; an electrical switching device,transistor 20, having current carrying elements connected in series withthe inductor element 15 across the source of direct current potentialand responsive to the electrical circuit open and closed conditions ofthe current carrying elements of the ignition coil primary windingswitch for completing and interrupting the energizing circuit for theinductor element 15, respectively, and circuitry for applying thepotential induced in the inductor element 15 upon the collapse of themagnetic field thereof with each operation of the current carryingelements of the ignition coil primary winding switch to the electricalcircuit closed condition across the ignition coil primary winding 12 inseries aiding relationship with the potential of the source of directcurrent potential.

The ignition coil primary winding switch may be any electrical switchingdevice which may be operated to electrical circuit open and closedconditions and which has an electrical current rating which willadequately switch the ignition coil primary winding energizing current.In FIG. I, the ignition coil primary winding switch is illustrated as apair of conventional ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and 100which are operated open and closed in timed relationship with theengine. In FIG. 2, the ignition coil primary winding switch isillustrated as an ignition distributor breaker contact triggered typeNPN transistor 70 which is triggered not conductive and conductivethrough the collector-emitter electrodes in timed relationship with theengine.

In the interest of reducing drawing complexity and since the methods andarrangements for operating the ignition distributor breaker contactsopen and closed in timed relationship with the engine are well known inthe internal combustion engine art and, per se, form no part of thisinvention, only the ignition distributor breaker contacts have beenschematically set forth in the figures.

The ignition coil primary winding 12 and the current carrying elementsof the ignition coil primary winding switch are connected in seriesacross the source of direct current potential. In FIG. I, this circuitmay be traced from the positive polarity terminal of battery 8, throughleads l8 and I9, movable contact 25 and stationary contact 27 ofelectrical switch 24, lead 29, diode 56, current limiting resistor 57,ignition coil primary winding 12, ignition distributor breaker contacts10 and 10a and point of reference or ground potential 5 to the negativepolarity terminal of battery 8. In FIG. 2, the current carrying elementsof transistor 70, collector electrode 72 and emitter electrode 73,replace ignition distributor breaker con' tacts l0 and 10a in thiscircuit.

Electrical switch 24 may be a conventional automotive type ignitionswitch having a manually rotatable movable contact 25, shown in the 0"position in the figures, which bridges stationary contacts 27 and 28 inthe Crank position and bridges stationary contacts 26 and 27 in the Run"position to which the movable contact is spring biased to return uponthe release of torque when the engine starts.

Any electrical switching device of the type having current carryingelements which may be operated to an electrical circuit closed conditionupon the application thereto of an electrical signal may be used as theelectrical switching device in the ignition system of this invention. Inthe figures, and without intention or inference of a limitation thereto,the electrical switching device is shown to be a type NPN transistor 20having the usual base or control electrode 21 and two current carryingelements, collector electrode 22 and emitter electrode 23, which may beoperated to an electrical circuit closed condition, that is, conductivethrough the collector-emitter electrodes thereof, upon the applicationof the electrical signal across the base electrode 21 and a selected oneof the current carrying elements thereof.

Inductor element 15 and the current carrying elements of the electricalswitching device, the collector-emitter electrodes of type NPNtransistor 20, are connected in series across the source of directcurrent potential, battery 8, through a circuit which may be traced fromthe positive polarity tenninal of battery 8 through leads 18 and 19,movable contact 25 and stationary contact 27 of electrical switch 24,leads 29 and 30, inductor element 15, current limiting resistor 35, thecollector-emitter electrodes of type NPN transistor 20, lead 36 andpoint of reference or ground potential 5 to the negative polarityterminal of battery 8. As the collector electrode 22 of type NPNtransistor 20 is connected to the positive polarity terminal of battery8 upon the closure of movable contact 25 of electrical switch 24 tostationary contact 27 and the emitter electrode 23 thereof is connectedto the negative polarity terminal of battery 8 through lead 36 and pointof reference or ground potential 5, type NPN transistor 20 is correctlypoled for forward conduction through the collector-emitter electrodesthereof with movable contact 25 of switch 24 closed to stationarycontact 27.

Circuit means is provided for applying an electrical signal to theelectrical switching device each time the ignition coil primary windingswitch is operated to the electrical circuit open condition foroperating the current carrying elements thereof to the electricalcircuit closed condition.

Referring to the figures, the electrical signal is applied across thecontrol electrode, base electrode 21, and a selected one of the currentcarrying elements, emitter electrode 23, of type NPN transistor 20 uponeach operation of the current carrying elements of the ignition coilprimary winding switch to the electrical circuit open condition fortriggering transistor 20 conductive through the current carryingelectrodes thereof, the collector-emitter electrodes, through resistor.40 lead 41 and the parallel combination of resistor 46 and filtercapacitor 47 and through lead 36 and point of reference or groundpotential 5, respectively, in a manner to be later explained.

Resistor 40 of this circuitry is connected in series with the currentcarrying elements of the ignition coil primary winding switch, ignitiondistributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a of FIG. 1 or thecollector-emitter electrodes of transistor 70 of FIG. 2, across thesource of direct current potential, battery 8, through a circuit whichmay be traced from the positive polarity terminal of battery 8, throughleads 18 and 19, movable contact 25 and stationary contact 27 of switch24, leads 29 and 31, resistor 40, leads 41 and 42, diode 43, theignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a of FIG. 1 or thecollector-emitter electrodes of transistor 70 in FlG. 2, and'point ofreference or ground potential to the negative polarity terminal ofbattery 8. The control electrode, base electrode 21 of transistor 20, isconnected to the junction 45 between resistor 40 and the ignition coilprimary winding switch through the parallel combination of resistor 46and filter capacitor 47, in both figures.

The junction 60 between inductor element 15 and the current carryingelements of the electrical switching device, the collector-emitterelectrodes of transistor 20, is electrically connected to the terminalend 12a of the ignition coil primary winding 12 opposite the terminalend 12b thereof connected to the current carrying elements of theignition coil primary winding switch, ignition distributor breakercontacts and 10a of FIG. I or the collector-emitter electrodes oftransistor 70 of FIG. 2, through diode 55 poled to conduct current fromjunction 60 toward junction 50.

Upon each interruption of the energizing circuit of inductor element ina manner to be later explained, the resulting collapsing magnetic fieldinduces a potential in inductor element 15. While the energizing circuitof inductor element 15 is established, the potential of the terminal endthereof connected to junction 85 is of a positive polarity with respectto the terminal end connected to junction 60. It is well known that thepotential induced in an inductor by the collapsing magnetic fieldthereof, upon the interruption of the energizing circuit, is of apolarity which tends to maintain the flow of current which produced themagnetic field. Consequently, the potential induced in inductor element15 upon the collapse of the magnetic field thereof upon eachinterruption of the energizing circuit with each operation of thecurrent carrying elements of ignition coil primary winding switch,breaker contacts l0 and 10a of FIG. 1 or the collector-emitterelectrodes of transistor 70 of FIG. 2, to the electrical circuit closedcondition is of a positive polarity at the terminal end thereofconnected to junction 60 with respect to the opposite terminal endconnected to junction 85. This induced potential reverse biases diode56, a condition which is tantamount to interrupting the circuit betweenjunctions 85 and 50, and is applied across the ignition coil primarywinding 12 in series aiding relationship with the potential of battery 8negative-to-positive a circuit which may be traced from junction 60;through forward poled diode 55; ignition coil primary winding 12; thecurrent carrying elements of the ignition coil primary winding switch,ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a of the circuit of FIG.1 or the collector-emitter electrodes of transistor 70 of the circuit ofFIG. 2; point of reference or ground potential 5; battery 8 in anegativedirection; leads 18 and 19; movable contact 25 and stationarycontact 27 of switch 24 and leads 29 and 30 to the opposite terminal endof inductor 15. As this induced potential is applied across ignitioncoil primary winding 12 in series aiding relationship with the potentialof battery 8 while the current carrying elements of the ignition coilprimary winding switch are in a circuit closed condition, the energizingcurrent through ignition coil primary winding '12 is increased over thatwhich would be produced by only battery 8 by an amount determined by themagnitude of this induced potential.

Referring to FIG. 1, upon the closure of movable contact 25 of switch 24to stationary contacts 27 and 28, battery potential appears across lead29 and point of reference or ground potential 5 of a positive polarityupon lead 29 with respect to point of reference or ground potential 5and the cranking circuitry, not shown, of the associated engine isenergized to crank the engine which operates ignition distributorbreaker contacts 10 and 10a open and closed in timed relationshiptherewith in a manner well known in the internal combustion engine art.

With each operation of the distributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a tothe electrical circuit closed condition, an energizing circuit for theignition coil primary winding 12 is completed through a circuit whichmay be traced from the positive polarity terminal of battery 8 throughleads l8 and 19, movable contact 25 and stationary contact 27 of switch24, lead 29, diode 56, current limiting resistor 57, primary winding 12,ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a and point of referenceor ground potential 5 to the negative polarity terminal of battery 8. Asthe closed ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and 10a provide asubstantially short circuit across the base-emitter electrodes of typeNPN transistor 20, this device does not conduct with the ignitiondistributor breaker contacts 10 and closed.

With each operation of the ignition distributor breaker contacts l0 and10a to the circuit open condition, the energizing circuit for theignition coil primary winding 12 is interrupted, the short circuit isremoved from across the base-emitter electrodes of transistor 20, and anelectrical signal appears across junction 45 and point of reference orground potential 5 which is of a positive polarity upon junction 45 withrespect to point of reference or ground potential 5. The resultingcollapsing magnetic field of ignition coil primary winding 12 induces anignition potential in the ignition coil secondary winding 14 which isdirected to the proper spark plug of the associated engine through theignition distributor, not shown, in a manner well known in the internalcombustion engine art. The electrical signal appearing across junction45 and point of reference or group potential 5 is applied across thebase-emitter electrodes of type NPN transistor 20 through resistor 46and point of reference or ground potential 5, respectively.

This electrical signal, which is of a positive polarity upon junction 45with respect to point of reference or ground potential 5, is of thecorrect polarity relationship to produce base-emitter current flowthrough a type NPN transistor, consequently, forward poled type NPNtransistor 20 conducts through the current carrying electrodes thereof,collectoremitter electrodes 21 and 22, to complete the energizingcircuit for inductor 15 which may be traced from the positive polarityterminal of battery 8 through leads 18 and I9, movable contact 25 andstationary contact 27 of switch 24, leads 29 and 30, inductor element15, current limiting resistor 35, the collector-emitter electrodes oftransistor 20, lead 36 and point of reference or ground potential 5 tothe negative polarity terminal of battery 8. The resulting flow ofenergizing current through inductor element 15 produces a magnetic fieldin a manner well known in the art.

Consequently, each time the ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and10a are operated to the circuit closed condition after a circuit opencondition, the energizing circuit for the ignition coil primary winding12 is completed through a circuit previously described and thebase-emitter electrodes of transistor 20 are substantiallyshort-circuited thereby. As this short circuit drains base current fromtransistor 20, this device extinguishes to interrupt the energizingcircuit for inductor 15.

The potential induced in inductor element 15 upon the collapse of themagnetic field thereof upon each interruption of the energizing circuitwith each operation of the ignition distributor breaker contacts 10 and10a to the electrical circuit closed condition is applied across theignition coil primary winding 12 in a series aiding relationship withthe potential of battery 8 through a circuit previously described.

Referring to FIG. 2, upon the closure of movable contact 25 of switch 24to stationary contacts 27 and 28, battery potential appears across lead29 and point of reference or ground potential 5 of a positive polarityupon lead 29 with respect to point of reference or ground potential 5and the cranking circuitry, not shown, of the associated engine isenergized to crank the engine which operates ignition distributorbreaker contacts and 100 open and closed in timed relationship therewithin a manner well known in the internal combustion engine art.

With each closing of the ignition breaker contacts 10 and 100, thebase-emitter electrodes 81 and 83 of type NPN transistor 80 aresubstantially short-circuited, consequently, this device is notconductive through the collector-emitter electrodes 82 and 83 thereof.With transistor 80 not conduct ing, base-emitter current flows throughtype NPN transistor 70 through resistors 75 and 76. As thecollector-emitter electrodes of type NPN transistor 70 are correctlypoled for forward conduction therethrough, this device is operated tothe electrical circuit closed condition, i.e., conductive through thecollector-emitter electrodes, to complete the energizing cir' cuit forignition coil primary winding 12 and substantially short circuit thebase-emitter electrodes of type NPN transistor 20.

With each opening of the ignition breaker contacts 10 and 10a, batterypotential appears across resistors 77 and 78, consequently, baseemittercurrent flows through type NPN transistor 80 through resistor 77. As thecollector-emitter electrodes of transistor 80 are correctly poled forforward conduction therethrough, this device conducts through thecollector-emitter electrodes to operate transistor 70 to the electricalcircuit open condition by substantially short-circuiting thebase-emitter electrodes of transistor 70 to extinguish transistor 70.With transistor 70 extinguished, the energizing circuit for ignitioncoil primary winding 12 is interrupted, the short circuit is removedfrom across the base-emitter electrodes of transistor 20 and theelectrical signal appears across junction 45 and point of reference orground potential 5. This electrical signal produces base-emitter and,consequently, collector-emitter current flow through transistor 20 tocomplete the energizing circuit for inductor element 15.

Upon the next closing of ignition distributor breaker con tacts l0 and100, the base-emitter electrodes of transistor 80 are substantiallyshort circuited. Consequently, transistor 80 extinguishes to operatetransistor 70 to the circuit closed condition by removing the shortcircuit from across the baseemitter electrodes of transistor 70 whichpermits the flow of base-emitter current for transistor 70 throughresistors 75 and 76. Consequently, transistor 70 again conducts throughthe collector-emitter electrodes to complete the energizing circuit forthe ignition coil primary winding 12 and to short circuit thebase-emitter electrodes of transistor 20 to extinguish transistor 20. Asthe transistor 20 extinguishes, the energizing circuit for inductorelement is interrupted and the potential induced therein by thecollapsing magnetic field is applied across the ignition coil primarywinding 12 in series aiding relationship with the potential of battery 8through the circuit previously described.

Diode 43 prevents the flow of current through ignition coil primarywinding 12 and the base-emitter electrodes of transistor when thecurrent carrying elements of the ignition coil primary switch are open;diode 55 prevents the flow of transistor 20 collectoremitter currentflow through current limiting resistor 57, capacitor 52 is theconventional ignition capacitor, capacitor 53 is a filter capacitor anddiode 54 is a negative voltage clamp.

In a practical application of the circuit of this invention, inductorelement 15 was an iron core electrical coil of 2.5 millihenries andtransistor 20 was a type 2N49 l 5.

From this description of two embodiments of the novel improved ignitionsystem of this invention, it is apparent that the electrical switchingdevice, transistor 20, is responsive to the electrical circuit open andclosed conditions of the current carrying elements of the ignition coilprimary winding switch for completing and interrupting the energizingcircuit for the inductor element 15, respectively, and that thepotential induced in inductor element 15 upon the collapse of themagnetic field thereof with each operation of the current carryingelements of the ignition coil primary winding switch to the electricalcircuit closed condition is applied across the ignition coil primarywinding in series aiding relationship with the potential of the sourceof direct current potential, battery 8.

As these two potentials are in series aiding relationship, the totalpotential applied across the ignition coil primary winding is thealgebraic sum thereof. Consequently, the energizing current through theignition coil primary winding is increased over that which is producedby the source of direct current potential by an amount determined by themagnitude of the potential induced in inductor element 15. Thisincreased energizing current, of course, produces an increased ignitioncoil primary winding magnetic field. As the magnitude of the ignitionspark energy potential induced in the ignition coil secondary winding isdirectly proportional to the intensity of the ignition coil primarywinding magnetic field, the increased ignition coil primary windingmagnetic field produced by the ignition system of this inventionprovides an increased ignition spark energy.

While specific switching devices, transistor types and electricalpolarities have been set forth in this specification, it is to bespecifically understood that alternate electrical switching devices andtransistor types having similar electrical characteristics andcompatible electrical polarities may be used without departing from thespirit of the invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and substitutions may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention which is to be limited only within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine ignition system having increasedignition spark energy comprising in combination with a source of directcurrent potential,

an ignition coil primary winding,

an ignition coil primary winding switch having current carrying elementswhich are operated to electrical circuit open and closed conditions intimed relationship with the engine,

means for connecting said ignition coil primary winding and said currentcarrying elements of said ignition coil primary winding switch in seriesacross said source of direct current potential,

an inductor element,

an electrical switching device having current carrying elementsconnected in series with said inductor element across said source ofdirect current potential and responsive to the electrical circuit openand closed conditions of said current carrying elements of said ignitioncoil primary winding switch for completing and interrupting theenergizing circuit for said inductor element, respectively, and

means for applying the potential induced in said inductor element uponthe collapse of the magnetic field thereof with each operation of saidcurrent carrying elements of said ignition coil primary winding switchto said electrical circuit closed condition across said ignition coilprimary winding in series aiding relationship with the potential of saidsource of direct current potential.

2. An internal combustion engine ignition system having increasedignition spark energy comprising in combination with a source of directcurrent potential,

an ignition coil primary winding,

an ignition coil primary winding switch having current carrying elementswhich are operated to electrical circuit open and closed conditions intimed relationship with the engine,

means for connecting said ignition coil primary winding and said currentcarrying elements of said ignition coil primary winding switch in seriesacross said source of direct current potential,

aninductor element,

an electrical switching device of the type having current carryingelements which may be operated to an electrical circuit closed conditionupon the application thereto of an electrical signal, means forconnecting said inductor element and said current carrying elements ofsaid electrical switching device in series across said source of directcurrent potential,

circuit means for applying an electrical signal to said electricalswitching device each time said ignition coil primary winding switch isoperated to the electrical circuit open condition for operating saidcurrent carrying elements thereof to the electrical circuit closedcondition, and

means for electrically connecting the junction between said inductorelement and said current carrying elements of said electrical switchingdevice to the terminal end of said ignition coil primary windingopposite the terminal end thereof connected to said current carryingelements of said ignition coil primary winding switch.

3. An internal combustion engine ignition system having increasedignition spark energy comprising in combination with a source of directcurrent potential,

an ignition coil primary winding,

an ignition coil primary winding switch having current carrying elementswhich are operated to electrical circuit open and closed conditions intimed relationship with the engine,

means for connecting said ignition coil primary winding and said currentcarrying elements of said ignition coil primary winding switch in seriesacross said source of direct current potential,

an inductor element,

a transistor having a control electrode and two current carryingelectrodes,

means for connecting said inductor element and said current carryingelectrodes of said transistor in series acros said source of directcurrent potential,

a resistor,

means for connecting said resistor in series with said current carryingelements of said ignition coil primary winding switch across said sourceof direct current potential,

means for connecting said control electrode of said transistor to thejunction between said resistor and said current carrying elements ofsaid ignition coil primary winding switch, and

means for electrically connecting the junction between said inductorelement and said current carrying electrodes of said transistor to theterminal end of said ignition coil primary winding opposite the terminalend thereof connected to said current carrying elements of said ignitioncoil primary winding switch.

4. An internal combustion engine ignition system having increasedignition spark energy comprising in combination with a source of directcurrent potential,

an ignition coil primary winding,

a set of ignition distributor breaker contacts operated open and closedin timed relationship with the engine,

means for connecting said ignition coil primary winding and saidignition distributor breaker contacts in series across said source ofdirect current potential,

an inductor element,

a transistor having current carrying electrodes connected in series withsaid inductor element across said source of direct current potential andresponsive to the opening and closing of said ignition distributorbreaker contacts for completing and interrupting the energizing circuitfor said inductor element, respectively, and

means for applying the potential induced in said inductor element uponthe colla se of themagnetic field thereof upon each operation 0 saidignition distributor breaker 2 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vCERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pategt 3,645,246 Dated February 29, 1972.

Invenwn's) Robert E. Campbell and Gerald 0.: Huntzinger It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 23, "0" should read Off line 39, after "of", "the"shouldread an column 3, line 56, after "8" delete negative-toposi"; line57, delete tive' and insert throng line 63, after "negative". delete thehyphen and insert to positive column 4, line 39,

"group" should read ground Signed and sealed this 27th day of- June1972.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOI'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. An internal combustion engine ignition system having increasedignition spark energy comprising in combination with a source of directcurrent potential, an ignition coil primary winding, an ignition coilprimary winding switch having current carrying elements which areoperated to electrical circuit open and closed conditions in timedrelationship with the engine, means for connecting said ignition coilprimary winding and said current carrying elements of said ignition coilprimary winding switch in series across said source of direct currentpotential, an inductor element, an electrical switching device havingcurrent carrying elements connected in series with said inductor elementacross said source of direct current potential and responsive to theelectrical circuit open and closed conditions of said current carryingelements of said ignition coil primary winding switch for completing andinterrupting the energizing circuit for said inductor element,respectively, and means for applying the potential induced in saidinductor element upon the collapse of the magnetic field thereof witheach operation of said current carrying elements of said ignition coilprimary winding switch to said electrical circuit closed conditionacross said ignition coil primary winding in series aiding relationshipwith the potential of said source of direct current potential.
 2. Aninternal combustion engine ignition system having increased ignitionspark energy comprising in combination with a source of direct currentpotential, an ignition coil primary winding, an ignition coil primarywinding switch having current carrying elements which are operated toelectrical circuit open and closed conditions in timed relationship withthe engine, means for connecting said ignition coil primary winding andsaid current carrying elements of said ignition coil primary windingswitch in series across said source of direct current potential, aninductor element, an electrical switching device of the type havingcurrent carrying elements which may be operated to an electrical circuitclosed condition upon the application thereto of an electrical signal,means for connecting said inductor element and said current carryingelements of said electrical switching device in series across saidsource of direct current potential, circuit means for applying anelectrical signal to said electrical switching device each time saidignition coil primary winding switch is operated to the electricalcircuit open condition for operating said current carrying elementsthereof to the electrical circuit closed condition, and means forelectrically connecting the junction between said inductor elemEnt andsaid current carrying elements of said electrical switching device tothe terminal end of said ignition coil primary winding opposite theterminal end thereof connected to said current carrying elements of saidignition coil primary winding switch.
 3. An internal combustion engineignition system having increased ignition spark energy comprising incombination with a source of direct current potential, an ignition coilprimary winding, an ignition coil primary winding switch having currentcarrying elements which are operated to electrical circuit open andclosed conditions in timed relationship with the engine, means forconnecting said ignition coil primary winding and said current carryingelements of said ignition coil primary winding switch in series acrosssaid source of direct current potential, an inductor element, atransistor having a control electrode and two current carryingelectrodes, means for connecting said inductor element and said currentcarrying electrodes of said transistor in series across said source ofdirect current potential, a resistor, means for connecting said resistorin series with said current carrying elements of said ignition coilprimary winding switch across said source of direct current potential,means for connecting said control electrode of said transistor to thejunction between said resistor and said current carrying elements ofsaid ignition coil primary winding switch, and means for electricallyconnecting the junction between said inductor element and said currentcarrying electrodes of said transistor to the terminal end of saidignition coil primary winding opposite the terminal end thereofconnected to said current carrying elements of said ignition coilprimary winding switch.
 4. An internal combustion engine ignition systemhaving increased ignition spark energy comprising in combination with asource of direct current potential, an ignition coil primary winding, aset of ignition distributor breaker contacts operated open and closed intimed relationship with the engine, means for connecting said ignitioncoil primary winding and said ignition distributor breaker contacts inseries across said source of direct current potential, an inductorelement, a transistor having current carrying electrodes connected inseries with said inductor element across said source of direct currentpotential and responsive to the opening and closing of said ignitiondistributor breaker contacts for completing and interrupting theenergizing circuit for said inductor element, respectively, and meansfor applying the potential induced in said inductor element upon thecollapse of the magnetic field thereof upon each operation of saidignition distributor breaker contacts to the closed condition acrosssaid ignition coil primary winding in series aiding relationship withthe potential of said source of direct current potential.